2008 Invitational to be Competed on Sept 21st

The Steeple View C.C. announces that the 2008 Invitational Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday September 21st.

Ode to a Simpson, or Haven't I Heard This One Before?

August 20, 2008.
Steeple View CC


The period of mourning was over. The SVCC captain was finally ready to be interviewed about the 2008 Steeplechase. As I sat down with him he related the stories of that day, July 20th 2008, and his continued wait to have his name etched on his own trophy.

The following is a paraphrased version of that conversation:


It was hot, the pool was cool and the 4th Steeplechase Championship was smokin’!!!















All 3 former champions were in the field- 05’ Champ Simpson, ’06 Champ Schulz and ’07 Champ Zander. The rest of the field? It representation was as impressive as it was diverse.

Pennsylvania lent its favorite son Vic Shine to the hills of SVCC.















UDGA poster boy Tom Lapinski was there.

The BCC contingent of Dreitlein and the Eagle? . . .check! No Rosenberg?? hmmm.















The Capt Billy Jo. Lurking, hoping for an engravers submission this year.

And a first. A corporate sponsored duo from Celgene Corp. Greg Russotti and Alfredo D’addio.














Finally- with fire in their eyes-Rober’ Auld and Tony D-both recently named in Backyard Golf Digest's-best players to have never won a major.

12 contestants.
Only one can be champion.

Three groups of 4 would start off the first round of play. Each past Steeplechase champion would get the honor of leading a group and thus be separated in the first round.

Group One saw the defending champion Zander Oldendorp go against the BCC’s eagle of choice, Pete and the Dynamic Doctor Duo of “Doctor Tom” and Greg “the Doctor” Russotti. The gallery whispered as the group left the first tee box that Zander should dominate his group. Russotti was still considered a rookie, Doctor Tom had never made a final and “the Eagle” usually reserves his greatness for individual holes that could further enhance his “hoop-in-one” master status.

But that’s why the play the game and the Z-man would have his hands full. The Dynamic Doctor Duo would take the first three holes. Z did manage birdie on 4 but the buzz around the course was Doctor Tom’s 9 points in the first group. Z was a distant second with 4 points, barely ahead of Greg’s 3 and Pete’s 2.

Group 2 had ’06 champ Derek Schulz with Rober’, Vic Shine and Alfredo D’addio. “Uncle” Vic, intending to leave his mark on the SVCC in his first tournament started par/birdie and the leader after 2. Alfredo, ever the competitor, needed just 7 holes to recover from the night before, recording 2 pts with pars on 8&9. Rober’ himself needed a few holes to get started scoring in 4 of the final 6 to finish with 5pts. But Derek led the group with his usual solid play- pointing on 6,7,8&9 to lead the group with 8 points.

Group 3 led by the Groundskeeper-Gary Simpson was a tough one on paper. Joining G was 2 time defending BCC Cup holder Bill, SVCC low handicapper Tony D, and “King” Jeffery the “8th” Dreitlein. And the group was-dare I say-en fuego!! 7 birdies out of the nine holes played (much to the chagrin of TD who parred 8 holes). Bill nearly assured a final berth early on with 8 points in the first 5 holes. Gary-slow to start-gained ground with 7 points in the last 5. Jeff true to his new nickname, birdied the 8th for his 2 points. And somehow TD’s 1 point on #1 was all he could muster as his ticket on the par train could not keep up with the birdie express.

But before round 2 on to the clubhouse we go. And according to Derek “the hospitality was impeccable. Thanks Karen and Barb.” The pool was also a favorite spot, with many contestants taking a swim to cool down their core temp on this smoking hot day.















Round Two, somewhat unremarkable in its par display, was still interesting as players scrambled to claim a spot in the final. Bill topped his 8pt first round with 10 in the second. Rober’ and Gary checked their ticket to the final group each with impressive 9pt second rounds. Derek ever consistent on his home course scored 8pts matching his first round score and Tom proved it was no fluke with 6pts and an entrance pass to his first final round grouping. That meant defending “Chase” champ was gone as well as TD, who had his high hopes melted in the hot July sun.

And as is the custom, back to Karen and Barb and the Clubhouse. Food, water, water, and more water . . . and probably a rum and coke. (hindsight tells me, the SVCC captain should ban rum and coke-that troublesome elixir!!) Many thanks to those who donated to the memorial fund for Pop in the 50/50 to benefit Pancreatic Cancer research!! Well done boys.

















Many of the eliminated competitors were quickly off to the pool and perhaps a dip would have been the better choice for three of our finalists. Bill, Rober’ and Tom would never get going in the final and combined for 4 points. Combined I say.

And as a deflated Bill ran to the engraver to steal any of the available letters he had that spelled Simpson, Gary and Derek would battle in what would become an epic 2 man race.

Each hole in the final was either won or tied by one of these 2 combatants. 5 birdies won holes-as it should be in the finals.
Both men started strong-tied with 4 points apiece after 4 holes. Then Simpson went Birdie/Birdie on 5 and 6, tightening the screws on Derek with 3 to play. But Derek never one to give up, especially at “the Chase”, birdies #7 and halves #8.


















So it’s down to 2 players, 1 hole- (right here?) with Rober’, Tom, and Bill having been mathematically eliminated after #6 (and to be truthful, really much earlier than that). All eyes were on the two past champions.

Derek down 1 had the honors. Smack!! Long and right.

Then Gary. Smack!! Short and left.

Advantage-who knows??

Derek shot #2. Flop shot . . .gutsy . . . and look its headed right in to . . .no thru the hoop and beyond.

Gary shot #2. Now needs only par to win.
Tension? Maybe.

And then again maybe not!!! 2 inches from the hoop!!!! And the subsequent tap-in sealed the victory.

Simpson wins his second Steeplechase and his 5th major victory at the SVCC!!!!

Congratulations you son of a . . .!! Till next time.



































In a related story-the official SVCC engraver confirmed that he is out of P’s and is unable to inscribe Simpson, so by rule, the course architect’s name goes on the FAWKIRK instead.

I wonder who that may be???